More detail on this person: On Sunday December 14, Joseph Cleveland Waters (Joe), yelled "Clear!!", brought his ship to flight idle, checked left, right and above, and after receiving clearance from the tower, departed towards the west from his home in Foley, Alabama on his last earthly mission. He was 85 years old. The second of seven brothers and sisters born to Bernie and Annie Jewel Waters, in Robertsdale Alabama where he was raised. He left home to join the U.S. Army in 1958 where his career was distinguished by service in the Military Police, 8th Army Honor Guard, Air Traffic Control, Officer's Candidate School and Army Aviator School. He completed two tours of duty in Vietnam, earning the following commendations: Distinguished Flying Cross Soldier's Medal Silver Star Medal Bronze Star Medal, (5) Air Medal, (17) National Defense Service Medal Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry Meritorious Service Medal After several command positions, he finished his U.S. Army career as an advisor to the 116th Armored Calvary Regiment of the National Guard in Twin Falls, Idaho. After military retirement, he continued his love of flying in commercial roles, flying offshore in the Gulf, surveying for drilling companies and flying forest fire missions across the country. His true calling however, was flying air rescue in Phoenix AZ. He was one of the founding pilots of AirEvac and continued this work with additional rescue companies. Joe eventually found himself in service again with the Arizona Department of Public Safety as a DPS Search and Rescue Pilot. It is safe to say he and many of his friends and colleagues in air rescue saved hundreds of lives just as courageously as any combat mission he ever flew. Taking medical retirement from DPS would not keep him grounded. He returned to the skies and his piloting career, eventually capping it off flying tours in Sedona, AZ where he regaled customers with stories of the Native American ruins in the area and took great joy in his role as guide. He was by turns flawless and flawed, as all men are. Charming, funny, compassionate, generous to a fault, at times, demanding and even distant at others. Very few knew him as a stranger, and he could make friends with anyone, beyond any barrier, language or social status. Those he held close as friends consider him the finest of men, many of whom entrusted their lives to his skill and grace. He loved the woods, getting lost, arguing about who got him lost, fishing, and telling the required tall tales that come with these pursuits. He loved music and poetry and was an accomplished raconteur, teller of jokes, and prankster. He loved making people laugh, and laughing with them. He never missed a garage sale deal, a fishing clearance sale, or a chance to meet friends over a beer at lunch. It amused him endlessly to scare friends, wives, and family witless. Unparalleled as a pilot, he oddly could not master motorcycles, or bikes of any type, wrecking several of his own, and a few that people were foolish enough to let him ride. He loved dogs, but not training them. He loved tackle as much as fishing, if not more. He loved starting projects, but not finishing them. In fact, he loved naps a great deal more than projects. He never met a road that went somewhere he had not been, or that he did not take just to see where it might go, often as his passengers asked him where the hell are we going. As a result he saw many wonderful things and experienced great beauty. So did his passengers. He imagined himself as bulletproof, evidenced by his evasion of bullets his entire life. No favor was denied to an honest request, neither were a hug nor shoulder and a listening ear. His heart was enormous and his kindness was an overwhelming comfort. We feel assured that he is now with the others that have preceded him, his Father Bernie, his Mother Annie Jewel, his brothers Dan and Wayland, his wife Cyndy, and the many friends he had missed for so long. Together they are carrying on the tradition of inveterate lies, tales of adventure far and wide, and sharing the endless humor he possessed. We are also sure he looks down on us with unconditional and immeasurable love. He leaves behind his Sisters, Jane, Reya and Helen, and his remaining Brother Oscar. His first wife and partner throughout his military career, Carolyn "Kayce" Waters, their children, Geren, Warren and Josie, as well as her children, Vivienne and Beatrix Airhart. There are also his grandchildren Allison, Amber and Alex Leister whom he and Cyndy raised as their own after their Mother Jennifer was taken by cancer. Finally there is Bentley, Allisons son, his Great Grandson. Graveside services will be held at 10:00 AM on April 10th, 2026 with the interment of his ashes in his final resting place, Bethel Cemetery, Robertsdale, AL.
Burial information: Bethel Cemetery
This information was last updated 04/03/2026
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Date posted on this site: 04/18/2026
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